Stand



P. TIMKO April 8., 1941.

STAND Filed May 6, 1940 Patented Apr. 8, 1941 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible stands.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved and more efficient collapsible stand; to provide a stand which may more readilybe assembled and dismantled; to provide a collapsible stand having a cup portion suspended between supporting legs; to provide in a device of this character improved means for anchoring the legs to the supporting cup; to provide a collapsible stand oi this character which shall be simple in construction and operation and relatively inexpensive to manufacture; and especially to provide such stands adapted to hold objects such as a Christmas tree erect.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved stand.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the legs and a sectional view of the cup taken on the line 22 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view,

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, similar to Fig. 2, illustrating themanner of securing one of the legs to the cup by relative vertical movement.

Fig. '7 is a plan view taken on the line l-i of Fig. 6.

Fig, 8 is a plan View taken on the line 8-8 of Fi 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the structure of my invention comprises a deep cup-like cast receptacle I, having a top flange 2 provided with a plurality of laterally extending equidistantly spaced ears 3 each having a vertical aperture 4 therein. Said receptacle also has an integrally formed downwardly extending flange 5 provided with a corresponding series of vertically extending equidistantly spaced edge slots 6. A plurality of removable cast legs I are provided to suspend and support the receptacle 1. Each of the slots 6 lies in the same radial vertical plane as the corresponding aperture 4.

Each of the legs I is provided with an upstanding lug 8, an internally threaded aperture 9 to receive a thumbscrew 10, a horizontally extending inward portion I I having grooves ii in each of the side edges which form a T [3 on the end of portion I I. As viewed in Fig. 6, the right hand vertical edge of each of the grooves l2 lies substantially in a vertical plane while the left hand edge lies in a diagonal plane. Each of the legs 1 on its diagonally remote lower end is provided with a foot M which is substantially below the main body of leg if so as to position the receptacle 1 well above the floor line when the device is in use.

In assembling the device the thumbscrew it is turned outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6. The lug 8 of leg l is then partially inserted in the ear aperture i and.the neck it of the T 13 inserted in the corresponding slot 63 of flange 5. The entire leg 'l is then moved upwardly as viewed in Fig, 6' to the position shown in Fig. 2. The thumbscrew It is then turned inwardly until the end it passes through wall aperture iii. The leg cannot now be displaced from the receptacle. Each of the other two legs is secured to the receptacle in the same manner. The bottom end of the trunk of a tree ii is now seated in the cup or receptacle l and the three thumbscrews it] each turned inwardly an equal distance until the ends it of .the screws lil abut firmly against and imbed themselves somewhat in the adjacent part of the tree trunk, thereby retaining the tree in an upright vertical position.

To collapse the stand the thumbscrews iii are each turned outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6, and the legs moved downwardly, thereby releasing them from the receptacle i.

It will be seen that after the lugs 8 of legs l are inserted in the respective ear apertures t, and the joint produced between the flange 5 and T It of portion H and the ends it of thumbscrews iii are inserted through the respective Wall apertures it of the receptacle l, the legs will be locked to the receptacle and cannot be displaced therefrom until the thumbscrews are withdrawn from the aperture Hi.

It is obvious that, when the tree is locked in place, all of the stresses exerted on the stand as a whole by the weight of the tree are evenly distributed.

It will be apparent that this stand may readily be utilized for numerous other purposes than merely a Christmas tree stand, as for instance, it may be used as a flag stand, or a stand for porta ble or collapsible hall trees and the like.

It is to be understood that some of the details set forth may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim: 7

A stand of the character described comprising a deep cup-like receptacle having a plurality of equidistantly spaced horizontally extending ears.

each having an aperture therein, said receptacle also having a series of equidistantly spaced apertures in its Wall, each located adjacent the lip of said cup and centrally under each of said ears, an integrally formed downwardly extending flange on the lower edge of said receptacle having a plurality of equidistantly spaced vertically extending slots therein, each of said slots lying in the same radial vertical plane as the corresponding wall aperture, a plurality of horizontally extending legs, one end of each of said legs having an upstanding lug portion adapted for insertion in one of the ear apertures and a horizontally extending inward portion on its lower part provided with a T-head adapted for insertion in the corresponding slot of the receptacle flange for locking engagement with the flange and a thumbscrew on each of said legs adapted for insertion in one of the side wall apertures and into the interior of said receptacle.

PAUL TIMKO. 

